Tiny portrait identified as thick-haired Mozart

This undated photo provided by the International Mozarteum Foundation shows Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Researchers at Salzburg's Mozarteum museum announced Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, that they have definitely identified the person in the picture as the musical genius. And it's not any likeness either. They say that of 14 known portraits, it is one of only a few showing him gazing directly at the viewer and without his signature white powdered wig. (AP Photo/Stiftung Mozarteum) (CP)

VIENNA, Austria — A round-faced young man with a thick head of hair depicted on a tiny 18th-century portrait that had the experts puzzled for centuries now has a name — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Researchers at Salzburg’s Mozarteum museum announced Friday that they have definitely identified the person in the picture as the musical genius.

And it’s not any likeness either.

They say that of 14 known portraits, it is one of only a few showing him gazing directly at the viewer and without his signature white powdered wig. Expert Cristoph Grosspietch says the museum’s findings are based on examinations of the portrait and historical records of the era.

He says the same experts concluded that another portrait, showing a youth holding a bird’s nest, was not Mozart, as had been believed.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.